Malda: Barely a month from now, the biggest festival for Bengalis, the Durga Puja, is going to take place. It's now more or less an accepted fact that the Pujas will be a low key affair as people are scared and even during these days of Unlock, many are still preferring to stay indoors. And all these have only deepened the crease on the foreheads of hundreds of cloth and garment merchants and retailers of the state.
Eid in Malda district, which is a minority-dominated district, was a major dampener as the lockdown continued. The retailers had faced a huge setback. And now the Durga Puja could be no different.
There are about 42 per cent Hindu population across the 15 blocks of the district, but the homogeneity of the people is such that everyone takes part in the Pujas. Most Muslim families purchase new clothes during the festive season and that has been the tradition, just like Eid.
The losses during Eid had run into crores, which some thought would be recovered during the Durga Puja. But, now most retailers and even wholesalers have started to accept the fact that 2020 has brought in a double whammy for them.
“The situation in the market is extremely bad, this Puja. It's only a month from now that the celebrations will start and still there are no crowds in the markets. Leave crowds, there are virtually not many souls on the road. Moreover, due to the disruption in transportation, supply is also very low. And we are also scared about bringing in large stocks due to the fear of infection. In my 23 years of business, this is the first time I am experiencing such a situation. We are also sensing that there is not much cash with the people to spare or splurge, which they normally do during the festive season. The Covid-19 is ruining us,” said Toton Dutta, one of the garment retailers of Malda Town.
Retailers like Manju Kundu and Narendranath Saha are also of the same opinion. “Only a section of government employees are coming to purchase new garments. Otherwise, there is no customer. We have set clients to serve, which we have been doing even for generations. Many of them have shied away from buying new garments and saving for the future,” said Manju, who owns a women's garments shop.
Big wholesalers like Joy Kundu says the GDP figures are indicative enough about the shocking situation of the market, both retail as well as wholesale.
“During Eid and Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year), people were firmly bolted inside their homes due to the scare of the virus. Now as the Unlock is becoming the new normal, people are gradually stepping outside. But, only on necessity. The dearth of cash in pockets, especially the middle class, has shaken every business, including ours,” said Joy. Another wholesaler Debashis Kundu also said it was very tough to recover the losses. “We will be left with a situation, where we will be much below the figures of last festive season,” he said.
Secretary of Malda Cloth Merchant Association, Swapan Barori said, “The loss during Eid this year has been close to Rs 350 crore. Most of the stock of Eid is still packed in the godowns and have not seen the light of day. There is simply no money with the people, neither with the customers nor with the retailers. Only a crowd is gathering at shopping malls but without much purchase. We are presently witnessing less than 25 per cent of the normal crowd in the market. This year will be a disaster.”
“The Chaitra Sale period or the Bengali New Year shopping, Eid and even Jamai Shasthi in a smaller way, all contribute to the overall sales of garments. And then the retailers and wholesalers, both wait for the festive season, the run-up to the Durga Puja. Corona Virus and its allied lockdown and scare have just finished off business for all these windows. The state government could have thought about some package to the people related to the garment business, but they have not. There is no talk of any government help or relief. This year is just bad for them,” said Jayanta Kundu, Secretary of Malda Merchant Chamber of Commerce.
